ad blocker · AdGuard

AdGuard for Windows

Windows app that filters ads, trackers and unsafe sites in every browser and other programs on the PC.

69/100

#8 of 12 ad blockers
Facts checked 8 Oct 2026

In short

The Personal plan covers 3 devices for $29.88 a year, billed annually, before tax¹.
The Windows app has a 14-day trial; no free version is listed².
By default it filters all traffic on the PC, and browsers are always filtered³.
A 30-day money-back guarantee applies¹.
The app is not open source; its GitHub repository is only an issue tracker⁷.

AdGuard for Windows suits people who want one tool to cover every browser and app on the PC, with blocking of cookie notices and unsafe sites^3,5,6. A paid licence covers 3 devices for $29.88 a year and carries a 30-day refund¹. The catch: there is no free Windows version beyond a 14-day trial, and the code is closed^2,7.

Best for: People who want one blocker for all browsers and apps on a Windows PC.

Where the points come from

Where it blocks23 of 23

Blocking26 of 26

Privacy and trust6 of 20

Price14 of 31

Where it blocks 23 of 23 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Windows browsers	Chrome, Edge, Firefox, OperaThe Windows app filters all traffic by default, and browsers are always filtered³.	12 / 12
Blocks outside the browser	YesAdGuard says it filters all apps on the PC by default, with exclusions you can set³.	5 / 5
Phone protection	iOS, AndroidThe vendor lists apps for Android and iOS, and says one licence works on both^1,8.	6 / 6

Blocking 26 of 26 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Still works in Chrome after Manifest V2	YesA Windows app filters outside the browser extension system, so Manifest V2 removal does not affect it³.	4 / 4
Your own block rules	YesA filter editor lets you create, add and import your own rules and filters⁴.	7 / 7
Malicious site blocking	YesBrowsing security blocks sites marked as unsafe and warns about phishing⁶.	5 / 5
Cookie pop-up blocking	YesThe "Block cookie notices" option removes cookie consent banners⁵.	4 / 4
No ad allow-list on by default	YesAdGuard says it has no 'acceptable ads' program, and calls the search-ads filter that unblocks some ads an optional feature¹⁰.	6 / 6

Privacy and trust 6 of 20 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Open source	NoThe README says AdGuard for Windows is not an open source project⁷.	0 / 10
No browsing history kept	YesThe privacy policy says AdGuard does not know which sites you visit and that apps filter traffic locally⁹.	6 / 6
Works without an account	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's Windows overview or install guide^2,12; neither says whether the trial needs sign-up.	0 / 4

Price 14 of 31 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Free plan	NoThe Windows app lists a 14-day trial and no free version; the licence page shows a trial-expiration screen when it ends^2,13.	0 / 12
Cheapest paid plan	$2.49/moPersonal, $29.88 a year for 3 devices, billed annually, before VAT¹.	9 / 12
Devices on one paid plan	3The Personal plan covers 3 devices¹.	2 / 4
Money-back guarantee	YesAdGuard states a 30-day money-back guarantee¹.	3 / 3

The rule behind each line: how we score ad blockers.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

Plan	Price as listed	Per month	Notes
TrialWindows app	Free for 14 days²	$0	14-day trial period for the Windows app
Personal (1 year)3 devices	$29.88/year¹	$2.49	Billed annually; VAT may apply
Family (1 year)9 devices	$65.88/year¹	$5.49	Billed annually; VAT may apply

The licence page shows US dollars, before VAT, and the 1-year plans renew at the same price. A lifetime licence is also sold at $79.99 for 3 devices; we do not count lifetime licences¹.

Strengths

Filters all browsers and other programs on the PC by default, not only one browser³.
Lets you create and import your own filter rules⁴.
Includes filters for cookie notices and a Browsing security feature for unsafe sites^5,6.
One licence works on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS¹.
Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee¹.

Limits

The Windows app has only a 14-day trial, not a free plan².
The app is not open source⁷.
Cheapest plan covers 3 devices, fewer than the 5 that would earn full device points¹.
AdGuard disclosed in 2018 that attackers used leaked email and password pairs to reach some user accounts¹¹.

Concerns on record

AdGuard's notice dated 20 September 2018 says attackers used email and password pairs leaked elsewhere to sign in to user accounts. It says its servers were not compromised, no more than a couple of hundred accounts were affected, and it reset all passwords¹¹.

Other ad blockers

1
uBlock OriginPeople who want a free, open-source blocker with their own filter rules
95/100
$0cheapest paid plan
2
GhosteryPeople who want a free, open-source blocker with cookie pop-up handling
82/100
$0cheapest paid plan
3
AdGuard DNSPeople who want device-wide blocking and a plan with their own rules
77/100
$1.67/mocheapest paid plan
4
Control DPeople who want to filter every device by DNS and write their own domain rules
73/100
$2.50/mocheapest paid plan

All 12 ad blockers

Sources

Buy AdGuard licence, AdGuard. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
AdGuard for Windows overview, AdGuard. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
App management, AdGuard for Windows, AdGuard. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Ad blocking, AdGuard for Windows, AdGuard. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Annoyance blocking, AdGuard for Windows, AdGuard. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Browsing security, AdGuard for Windows, AdGuard. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
AdguardTeam/AdGuardForWindows, GitHub. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
AdGuard products, AdGuard. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
AdGuard privacy policy, AdGuard. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Search ads and self-promotion, AdGuard. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
AdGuard security notice, AdGuard. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Installation, AdGuard for Windows, AdGuard. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
License activation, AdGuard. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.

Website: adguard.com · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with AdGuard.